CZECH RESPONSE ON ARMS TRADE TREATY

UNCLAS PRAGUE 000549 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KOMC UNDC PARM EZ SUBJECT: CZECH RESPONSE ON ARMS TRADE TREATY REF: STATE 63299 ¶1. (U) Sensitive But Unclassified; not for internet distribution. ¶2. (SBU) On May 8, Poloff delivered reftel demarche to Ivan Pinter, Acting Head of the UN Department at the Czech MFA. Pinter stated that he would pass the demarche onto the appropriate working level contact at the Ministry and that the Ministry would shortly respond. On May 15, Poloff spoke with Jiri Kral from the MFA, who thanked Poloff for the nonpaper and stated that the Czechs were early supporters of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). Kral said that as a historical arms exporter the Czech government viewed the need for a common basis to reduce illicit and irresponsible arms transfers as needed and necessary. He noted that while the quality of the treaty was lower than EU standards, the Czechs believe the ATT could be improved over time much as the EU's Code of Conduct has been strengthened. Specifically, Kral said that the Czechs would focus on improving enforcement mechanisms over the long term. GRABER